LeFort fractures. A review

Background: The classic fractures with anatomical distributions located at the level of the lines of weakness described by René Le Fort in 1901 are rarely observed in clinical practice; it is more common to observe various combinations between these patterns, or atypical fractures, comminuted maxillary fragments related to severe trauma. Facial traumas are frequent, generally associated with traffic accidents, work accidents, assaults or accidental falls, recently associated with an increasing frequency with extreme sports. They represent a diagnostic challenge due to the complexity of the facial skeleton and the difficulty in obtaining clear images. Mortality ranges between 15-20%, they are associated with multiple trauma in 60% of cases and injuries in other locations whose treatment is a priority must be ruled out. Computed tomography (CT) is the diagnostic technique of choice due to its availability, speed and possibility of performing reconstructions that can be fundamental for the diagnosis and planning of surgical management, which can generally include multidisciplinary collaboration between different specialties, since the combination of These types of fractures can involve structures such as the airway and eyes.

Keywords: LeFort fracture, facial trauma, maxillary trauma, atypical fractures, facial skeleton.